E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

How are Bi-Xenon Supposed to work?

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Old Jan 26, 2025 | 01:49 PM
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E200 CDI w211 and ML320 CDI w164
How are Bi-Xenon Supposed to work?

I have a 2003 E200 CDI with option code 614 (Bi-Xenon headlights). From my understanding, Bi-Xenon means the same bulb is used for both low and high beams, with the Xenon moving to adjust for the high beam. However, in my car, when I activate the high beams (or just flash them), the Xenon doesn’t move up like it does during the car’s startup sequence. Instead, only the H7 bulb in the smaller circle above the daytime running lights turns on, just like in a regular HID setup.



So, what’s the point of the Bi-Xenon if the Xenon doesn’t adjust for the high beams? Is this how it’s supposed to work, or is something wrong? Thanks!

P.S I also hear a noise from the headlights when I "flash" is this normal?

Last edited by kristiyan; Jan 26, 2025 at 01:51 PM.
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Old Jan 26, 2025 | 04:21 PM
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2006 E280
There's a shutter that moves when activated between the hi and lo. Google "how bi-xenon works".
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Old Jan 26, 2025 | 05:24 PM
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As said there's a cutoff shield that covers part of the lens and it moves out of the way when the high beams are activated. The lens itself doesn't move. The lens only moves to level the beam. However, flashing is usually done with a separate halogen bulb to differentiate it from the high beams and to not be blindingly bright for the person you are flashing at.

Last edited by superswiss; Jan 26, 2025 at 05:25 PM.
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Old Jan 27, 2025 | 02:24 AM
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2006 E280
Originally Posted by kristiyan
From my understanding, Bi-Xenon means the same bulb is used for both low and high beams, with the Xenon moving to adjust for the high beam. However, in my car, when I activate the high beams (or just flash them), the Xenon doesn’t move up like it does during the car’s startup sequence. Instead, only the H7 bulb in the smaller circle above the daytime running lights turns on, just like in a regular HID setup.



So, what’s the point of the Bi-Xenon if the Xenon doesn’t adjust for the high beams? Is this how it’s supposed to work, or is something wrong? Thanks!
Light moving up and down durin startup is just a system calibrating itself to level, and also checking the function of the system. Because Xenon lights are so bright, they need to adjust automatically so there's no glare to oncoming traffic.
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Old Jan 27, 2025 | 06:33 PM
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E200 CDI w211 and ML320 CDI w164
thank you all for the help, i covered the halogens and yeah the xenon gets brighter and is higher, here is a video WITH halogens that got me worried the xenons not working first is flash then pushing away the lever, i suppose the halogen is just orange and confuses me to not see the xenon - video also no error codes in das whatsoever, i. think it's just in my mind, does it look fine to you?
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Old Jan 28, 2025 | 01:55 PM
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Yeah, looks good to me.
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Old Jan 31, 2025 | 02:30 AM
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Originally Posted by kristiyan
thank you all for the help, i covered the halogens and yeah the xenon gets brighter and is higher, here is a video WITH halogens that got me worried the xenons not working first is flash then pushing away the lever, i suppose the halogen is just orange and confuses me to not see the xenon - video also no error codes in das whatsoever, i. think it's just in my mind, does it look fine to you?
It's covered in older threads. But basically the reason there's a halogen bulb is because when you flash to pass, it takes too long for the shutter to move so there's also a halogen bulb. If you just have high beams on all the time, then the shutter moves out of the way. I think the earlier models only had the bixenons, but later years like 2005 or 2006 had active curve illumination where the headlamps swivel 12 degrees to the right or left.
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Old Jan 31, 2025 | 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by cetialpha5
I think the earlier models only had the bixenons, but later years like 2005 or 2006 had active curve illumination where the headlamps swivel 12 degrees to the right or left.
after reading this thread, i tested my HID lights on my 08 and did NOT notice that it is bi-xenon with flaps on the low beam lens.
i checked my build sheet and it does say 615 - bi-xenon with active curve - so maybe i just missed the low/high difference as my halogens overtook the overall high beam pattern. i think i need to block the halogen high beams and try again!
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